1. Women Producers Coping Through Small Support Groups United Farmers USA Manning, SC 29102 www.unitedfarmersUSA.org Support Group

2. United Farmers USA (UFUSA) is a non-profit support organization that works within the community to develop the skills necessary to help the small farmer succeed. The primary purpose of the organization is to provide a variety of outreach, education, technical assistance, mentorship and resources to assist new and beginning, limited resource, underserved farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, veterans and the unemployed by offering programs that include business, farm and financial management, and cooperative Marketing. Overview Support Group

3. Overview FACTS Support Groups have been proven to help people overcome interruptions in life. Farmers across the United States and some foreign countries have the highest suicide rate. Support Groups will help women farm producers acknowledge they need help before deciding this is the end. SATISTICS Studies show American Farmers suicide rate to be double the national average of everyone else. Farm suicides is 48% higher than any other profession. Australian Farmers has the highest than any other country. Indian Farmers continue to be on the rise with one every half hour and French one every two days. Support Group

4. Overview CAUSES OF SUICIDE Depression Cost of Supplies Loans/unpaid debts Feel a sense of loss Paid less for more work Work outside the home Feel ashamed because they are not self sufficient Stress WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FAMILY It becomes a dream deferred. Separation, Divorce or Death of Spouse Kills the next generation’s hope Lose and/or Sell the farm Support Group

5. Why Support Groups They help farmers and their families manage their feelings, life changes, daily choices and living on a farm. (Attack the root causes of emotional and relational problems) Give tools to be successful in a family, operate as a healthy member of a community and build relationships that help them break through into the highest dimensions of human growth. They are more effective than going to a counselor. Has a long term effect Free in local communities Support Group

6. Support groups are groups made up of farmers experiencing the same or similar situations. They help you to heal mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually by helping a person break free of defeating behaviors like depression, isolation, feeling guilty, anger, resentment and blame. They cause a person to reach within themselves to uncover the authentic person and proceed to do things differently. It helps them realize they are not Lone Rangers but Lone Rangers with Tonto. What Are Support Groups Support Group

7. Who, Where and When Who Can Do Support GroupsWhere Can they be held and when Farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, veterans, and youth Community Centers On the Farm Any Day of the Week Support Group

8. How we go started Saw the need Change in Family Structure Changes that started after Hurricane Hugo Sought a Professional Begin to Implement (Hosted a Farmers Meeting) Once a month with seasoned farmers Now new & beginning farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, veterans, unemployed and youth Support Group

9. Do you have these symptoms in your everyday life? Are You…. Depressed about farm life Angry because you feel you made a mistake Dealing with overwhelming emotions Ongoing grief of a love one who may have committed suicide Struggling as a single parent Struggling in your marriage Finances weighing you down Dealing with a long-term illness Isolating yourself from love ones and relationships Lacking trust Feeling detached Unable to set boundaries, Making poor choices Hopelessness Support Group

10. Supports Groups Presents an Opportunity Opportunity to Change Confidential Support Group

11. QUESTIONS??????? Support Group

12. ROLE-PLAY Could you be the missing link? Support Group

13. United Farmers USA P. O. Box 243 Manning, SC 29102 843-319-7212 bentondot@aol.com www.unitedfarmersUSA.org Contact Us Support Group